WIP Stands for "Work In Progress"

As two full months have already ended in 2018, I'm already taking notes and assessing my progress.  Am I following my New Year's Resolutions?  Am I making time for me?  Am I finding balance?

Strangely enough when I mentioned the phrase "work in progress," my son already knew what I was talking about.  "Mommy, you mean WIP."

"WIP?" I asked.

"Yes, Work In Progress," he answered.

The phrase, admittedly, didn't enter my vocabulary until I was well into adulthood, but somehow it's part of my son's everyday lingo.  In fact, he assuredly let me know that pretty much everything is "a work in progress."  How did my son become so wise?

As I look at my resolutions for 2018, I'm realizing that they, too, are a work in progress.  I've done well in assuring that I find some time for my son, my friends, and my husband each month, but as work responsibilities increased around mid-February, my blog writing (once per week) took a toll.  The walking, hiking, and exercising in general also stopped.  When those stop, the daydreaming stops, and then my carefree attitude of silliness, wonder, and excitement turn to worry, fear, anxiety, and frustration.  Last week, I felt the symptoms of a cold resurfacing along with my neck, shoulder, and back pain.  If I was looking for a sign to see if my life was in balance, I surely got my answer: NO!!

At work, there were papers to correct, emails to send, reports to analyze, and difficult decisions to be made.  At home, there were mounds of laundry to be done, clutter to be organized, mail to be sorted, and unexpected bills to be paid.  In Cub Scouts, there were den and pack meetings to plan and a fundraising project to implement. And then, out of nowhere, there was a death in my husband's family, an accident (his mom fractured her arm after slipping on ice), and an unwelcome realization that my in-laws may need to move out of financial necessity.

Then, there was one more tipping point.  Lewie's beloved camp director called to tell me that Lewie's summer camp would be closing--permanently.  I cried.  How could this be?  I had already filled out the registration form and put down my deposit!  Lewie was already counting down the days to camp, for it had become his second home!

The last of my free time was spent researching new camps, speaking with directors, and even visiting one.  We "think" we made the right choice to experiment between two different camps this summer, but there are still registration forms to complete and deposits to be made before March 1!

This week, I'm trying to reset my priorities and get back on track.  I won't lie.  I still feel totally overwhelmed, but I'm taking a step back to breathe.  It will all get done.  It will all get done.  It will all get done.  (That has to be my new mantra.)

This is my happy place.  Thinking about hiking with my little boy.

I'm blogging tonight instead of filling out Lewie's new camp registration forms.  I still have papers to correct, too.  I have to shift the balance, and the balance starts back to finding time for me.  It's all a WIP.